Notes and Comments.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 189, 12 April 1902, Page 3

Notes and Comments.

Che start of this story happened in the Royal Hotel, Waia novel mate, the other night, race. Everyone, of course, knows that that particular light was blustery, stormy, wet, tad the rest of it, and one’s feet vere best in close proximity to a ;ood lire and one’s nose in the atne relation to a glass of sotnehing hot. Well, that was the aso at the Royal, where “ Harry ” nd two other jolly blades —Mine losts of other parts—swopped torics of their individual athletic •rowess. They might have been here till the cows came home (as ne gentle joker has it) had not one f the visitors made a bet that he ''Quid run the other for his shirt, ’his may not have been the exact mount, and seeing that the gentle-, lan in question already possessed very largo shirt, it was hardly kcly, but it is written now, and, ke the laws of the Medes and ’ersians, it “ can’t be wiped out.” 'fell, the other gentleman immeiately retorted that his greatrandfather, 'when a schoolboy, ad run 100 yards in 63fsec. off cr atch, and he would be—dashed -if he would not sustain the ononr of the family and run him )r champagne stakes. Having cranged the match, nothing but nnn.ng would satisfy the pair, so Harry” took down the pistol aat has done such yeoman service t Sunday school treats and other me meetings, and led the way to 30 Eire Brigade station, where )rches were procured, and, aivering sadly, combatants, starter the writer of this veracious 3cord wended their way to Vic>ria Park. Hero one of the mnerg got jammed in the turnhe, but was finally induced to cawl through on his hands and

knees. Arriving at the track, the torches flickered over pools ofslus i and mud, but the spectators and starter overruled one of the runners’ remark that it was too wet, and decided that the race must go on. The distance was once round the track, and a torch lit the scone at each 110 yards. It was a skittish team to get started, for each bad to be forcibly deprived of his overcoat, hat and waistcoat, and have bis sleeves and trousers rolled up. Then the pistol cracked, and both competitors plunged forward—face down in the mud. The thinner one fancied the other pushed him, and with appropriate remarks he said he’d “ wade into him.” After a ding-dong go for twenty yards he did wade in—to his knees in sloppy clay—and his remarks on the Borough Council could only be printed in red ink. Off they went again, and at the first torch rail-

way refreshments held premier place, with the Oamaruviau close up and puffing like a g-Roper. They cut out the next 110 yards in Soinin, and the spectators shivered with delight. The champagne was in the custody of the Advertiser man, and it was this alone that nerved him to witness the fray. When finally the run had become a thing of the past and the runners laid “down fiat on the track and asked to die, he it was who nobly rushed up and poured dirty water from a champagne bottle down their throats. They didn’t know the difference, and will not if they are not told. But when the expressman carted the w'eary couple hack to the hotel there was no inclination to again leave the fire and the etceteras. But, as a special favour, don’t mention this story at the Royal; its a sore subject, and the pistol is ready loaded.